The Emotional Wound Thesaurus · A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma by Puglisi, Becca -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Foreword Self-Care for Writers The Mirror of Fiction: a Reflection of Life and Our Deeper Selves What Is an Emotional Wound? Character Arc: an Internal Shift to Embrace Change The Villain’s Journey Brainstorming Your Character’s Wound Pain Runs Deep: Factors That Will Impact the Wound Revealing the Wound Through Behavior Problems to Avoid Final Words from the Authors THE EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS Crime and Victimization

A Carjacking A Home Invasion A Physical Assault Being Held Captive Being Sexually Violated Being Stalked Being Treated as Property Being Victimized by a Perpetrator Who Was Never Caught Identity Theft Witnessing a Murder

Disabilities and Disfigurements

A Learning Disability A Physical Disfigurement A Speech Impediment A Traumatic Brain Injury Battling a Mental Disorder Being So Beautiful It’s All People See Falling Short of Society’s Physical Standards Infertility Living With Chronic Pain or Illness Losing a Limb Losing One of the Five Senses Sexual Dysfunction Social Difficulties

Failures and Mistakes

Accidentally Killing Someone Bearing the Responsibility for Many Deaths Being Legitimately Incarcerated for a Crime Caving to Peer Pressure Choosing Not to Be Involved in a Child’s Life Cracking Under Pressure Declaring Bankruptcy Failing at School Failing to Do the Right Thing Failing to Save Someone’s Life Making a Very Public Mistake Poor Judgment Leading to Unintended Consequences

Injustice and Hardship

An Abuse of Power Becoming Homeless for Reasons Beyond One’s Control Being Bullied Being Falsely Accused of a Crime Being Fired or Laid Off Being Forced to Keep a Dark Secret Being Forced to Leave One’s Homeland Being the Victim of a Vicious Rumor Being Unfairly Blamed for Someone’s Death Experiencing Poverty Living Through Civil Unrest Living Through Famine or Drought Prejudice or Discrimination Unrequited Love Wrongful Imprisonment

Misplaced Trust and Betrayals

A Sibling’s Betrayal A Toxic Relationship Abandonment Over an Unexpected Pregnancy Being Disappointed by a Role Model Being Disowned or Shunned Being Let Down by a Trusted Organization or Social System Being Rejected by One’s Peers Childhood Sexual Abuse by a Known Person Discovering a Partner’s Sexual Orientation Secret Discovering a Sibling's Abuse Domestic Abuse Financial Ruin Due to a Spouse’s Irresponsibility Finding Out One Was Adopted Finding Out One’s Child Was Abused Getting Dumped Having One’s Ideas or Work Stolen Incest Infidelity Learning That One’s Parent Had a Second Family Learning That One’s Parent Was a Monster Losing a Loved One Due to a Professional’s Negligence Misplaced Loyalty Telling the Truth But Not Being Believed

Specific Childhood Wounds

A Nomadic Childhood A Parent’s Abandonment or Rejection Becoming a Caregiver at an Early Age Being Raised by a Narcissist Being Raised by an Addict Being Raised by Neglectful Parents Being Raised by Overprotective Parents Being Raised by Parents Who Loved Conditionally Being Sent Away as a Child Being the Product of Rape Experiencing the Death of a Parent as a Child or Youth Growing Up in a Cult Growing Up in Foster Care Growing Up in the Public Eye Growing Up in the Shadow of a Successful Sibling Growing Up With a Sibling’s Disability or Chronic Illness Having a Controlling or Overly Strict Parent Having Parents Who Favored One Child Over Another Living in a Dangerous Neighborhood Living in an Emotionally Repressed Household Living With an Abusive Caregiver Not Being a Priority Growing Up Witnessing Violence at a Young Age

Traumatic Events

A Child Dying on One’s Watch A House Fire A Life-Threatening Accident A Loved One’s Suicide A Miscarriage or Stillbirth A Natural or Man-Made Disaster A Parent’s Divorce A School Shooting A Terminal Illness Diagnosis A Terrorist Attack Being Humiliated by Others Being Tortured Being Trapped in a Collapsed Building Being Trapped With a Dead Body Divorcing One’s Spouse Getting Lost in a Natural Environment Giving Up a Child for Adoption Having an Abortion Having to Kill to Survive Losing a Loved One to a Random Act of Violence The Death of One’s Child Watching Someone Die

Appendix A: Wound Flowchart Appendix B: Character Arc Progression Tool Appendix C: Wounding Examples from Popular Stories Appendix D: Backstory Wound Profile Tool Recommended Reading Join Us At Writers Helping Writers